MLS Announces 2011 Generation Adidas Class

Ahead of their SuperDraft in Baltimore this January, Major League Soccer has announced that nine players available for selection will fall under the Generation adidas classification.

For those unfamiliar, here's how MLS describes the innovative program that has now become a vital part of the league's youth efforts:

Generation adidas contracts provide the opportunity for players to leave college early and continue to develop their soccer careers in MLS. The salaries of these players are greater than the league minimum (Ed. note: $42,000 for the 2011 season) and the players are also provided educational funds should they decide to return to school. Their salaries also do not count against a club's salary budget, allowing teams to afford them time to develop.The Union currently have three Generation adidas players on their roster heading into the 2011 season in Danny Mwanga, Jack McInerney and Amobi Okugo. With the fifth overall selection, and nine Generation adidas players available, it is highly likely they will leave the draft with at least one more GA player added onto their roster. Full list of the 2011 Generation adidas class after the jump…

Will Bruin, F, Indiana University

Corey Hertzog, F, Penn State University

Perry Kitchen, MF, University of Akron

Zac MacMath, GK, University of Maryland

Darlington Nagbe, MF/F, University of Akron

Michael Nanchoff, MF, University of Akron

Omar Salgado, F, unaffiliated

Kofi Sarkodie, D, University of Akron

Zarek Valentin, D, University of Akron

There were reports just a few weeks ago that the Union were denied in their attempt to sign Hertzog, a native of Reading, under the Homegrown Player initiative, so it is likely they still have significant interest in picking him in the SuperDraft if things work out for them. Do other players on this list interest you, though?